Lambda Legal argues for application of “putative spouse” doctrine to Cal. civil unions

Lambda Legal has issued this press release that begins:

The California Court of Appeal heard oral arguments today in the appeal of an Orange County man who believed his domestic partnership was registered with the state, only to discover upon separation that his partner never mailed the form . . .

Lambda Legal’s brief argues that AB 205, California’s domestic partner law, should give same-sex couples the same protection under the state’s “putative spouse doctrine” as people in different-sex relationships who believed they were married, and have lived their life as married, only to find out later that their marriage was not valid . . .

The case is Ellis v. Arriaga.